Compost is compost, and yes, it’s organic, right? Not really.

Organic compost is made up of decomposed organic matter such as leaves, garden waste, food scraps, and other biodegradable matter. If a material is biodegradable, it can likely be used in compost.

What Does Compost Do?

Compost can add vital nutrients to the soil as rain falling on it can carry nutrients from the compost into the soil found in a garden bed, landscaping, around trees, or on a lawn. It’s a natural fertilizer that serves to feed plant life. But it’s also beneficial in many other ways.

Compost reduces soil compaction. That is, it breaks up the soil, which enables it to absorb water more efficiently, allow air to enter the soil, and help root systems of all plant life grow more easily through the less compacted soil. This reduces the strain on trees, shrubs, flowers, decorative plants, and grass, enabling them to more easily access food and nutrients in the soil.

Compost also helps soil retain water, which is an invaluable trait during the hot summer months – which often lead to less than ideal rainfall amounts – commonly found in the Midwest. This increased water retention means even minor amounts of rainfall can be more beneficial to plant life, and it also adds up to homeowners watering lawns and plants less frequently.

Finally, compost used on lawns can – rather quickly in many cases – lead to thicker, denser grass, with deeper, more dense root systems. This improved grass growth not only makes for a better-looking lawn, it also can greatly reduce the available room for invasive weeds. In effect, a thicker, more lush lawn chokes out weeds.

Is All Organic Compost The Same?

Organic compost is generally considered to be compost that is free from chemicals, concentrated minerals and nutrients not normally found in nature.

There are, however, significant differences between varieties of compost. Since compost is natural and is made from decomposing organic material, it can be an ideal breeding ground for a broad spectrum of viruses and bacteria, many of which can be harmful to your trees, shrubs, plants, and lawn. This can lead to homeowners unknowingly spreading harmful viruses and bacteria on their lawns and landscaping, which can lead to diseased plant life – exactly the opposite result those homeowners were seeking.

Is A “Safe” Virus And Bacteria Free Organic Compost Available?

Fortunately, Hansen’s Tree Service offers homeowners specially treated organic compost containing little or no viruses and/or bacteria that can harm plant life.

We call this special compost “the Magic Bean.” We don’t use chemicals of any kind to eliminate dangerous viruses and bacteria from our organic compost. Instead, we expose it to high temperatures and greatly reduced oxygen levels. By doing so, the potentially harmful bacteria and viruses in the compost are destroyed, while the valuable nutrients in the compost remain. This means homeowners get all the benefits of organic compost with none of the downsides.

Would Your Lawn And Landscaping Benefit From Organic Compost? Consult With The Experts At Hansen’s Tree Service Today!

Our certified arborists and plant care specialists are experts at assessing the needs of your trees, shrubs, decorative plant life, lawns and landscaping elements. They can quickly assess the health of all of your plant life, diagnose any current or future problems and advise you regarding their short- and long-term care.

Contact us today and let our insured, experienced professionals take care of all your tree-related needs!